Fire triggers shutdown at upstate NY nuke plant

SCRIBA, N.Y. (AP) -- The FitzPatrick nuclear power plant on Lake Ontario has shut down for the second time in a week. The shutdown early Sunday was triggered by a fire in the plant's main transformer.

Plant owner Entergy Nuclear says the fire broke out around 5:45 a.m. and was extinguished at 6:30. The company says there was no release of radiation and no danger to employees or the public. It was reported as an "unusual event," the lowest of four event classifications by the Nuclear regulatory Commission.

FitzPatrick shut down on Nov. 4 when its turbine stopped during routine testing. It returned to operation after personnel replaced an electrical relay.

The plant is in Oswego County about 30 miles northwest of Syracuse.

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